Audit

As an objective of its Open and Transparent Governance Strategy, City of Newcastle (CN) is committed to ensuring accountability for public money and high levels of service, governance, quality, professional conduct and compliance with professional standards and other legislative requirements.

We have established an Audit and Risk Committee in accordance with statutory obligations and recognised best practice. The Audit and Risk Committee is made up of independent and Councillor members and reports periodically to the elected Council as provided in its committee Charter adopted by the Council.

The objective of the Audit and Risk Committee is to provide independent assurance and assistance to CN on risk management, fraud control, governance, financial, and legal and regulatory obligations.

The Audit and Risk Committee also acts as a forum for communication between Council, executive management, internal audit and external audit; and provides oversight of our internal audit activity.

Fraud and Corruption

Fraud means dishonest activity causing actual or potential financial loss to any person or entity including theft of moneys or other property where deception is used at the time, immediately before or immediately following the activity.

Corruption means conduct that adversely affects the honest and impartial exercise of official functions, a breach of public trust by public officials and the misuse of public office for private gain. Fraud and Corruption are interrelated and represent the misuse of public office for private gain.

We are committed to preventing, detecting and investigating allegations of fraud and corruption. We promote an organisational culture that has zero tolerance for any act of Fraud or Corruption. We report corrupt or fraudulent conduct to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) or NSW Policy where appropriate.

We have a Fraud and Corruption Control Plan that is designed to ensure that we maintain best practice levels of service to local government and the community. It is designed to protect our public money and property; and our integrity, security and reputation.

Code of Conduct

If you have concerns regarding the conduct of Councillors, staff, members of committees or contractors to CN, you can find out more information through our Code of Conduct Policy.

Reporting Fraud and Corruption

If you have concerns regarding fraud or corrupt conduct at Council, we encourage you to report this matter to us. You can also make a report in writing, in person or confidentially over the phone by calling our Fraud Hotline 4974 2216.

To enable us to thoroughly investigate and minimise the risk of fraud and corruption, we ask you to report it as soon as possible and with as much detail as possible.

While reports can be made anonymously, we prefer that you provide your name and contact details to allow you to be contacted at a later stage if the investigator requires clarification or further information.

Alternatively, you may wish to raise any concerns about wrongdoing with an independent agency such as: